Was Tabassum A Muslim Is a Diabolical Thinking: How Can A Name Be Hindu Or Muslim?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 November 2022 Now when Tabassum has shuffled off the mortal coil after entertaining generations of TV watchers with her inimitably friendly and effusive style, people are asking whether she was a Hindu or a Muslim! They're intrigued to know that she was sister-in-law of Arun Govil ( Ram on TV). So, it's 'imperative' for such nosey people to know her religion as if this will help them attain salvation! Since she was famous as Tabassum ( smile; blossoming of a flower: Ghunche Ka Shagufta Hona) and the word is of Arabic origin, her religion evokes great interest! For the unversed, Tabassum's father was a Hindu and mother a Muslim, who never cared for religion and such pettiness. We're so debased that we decide a person and his/her persona by the religion he/she belongs to. This is diabolical thinking. How can a name be Hindu or Muslim? When I relinquished my father's religion ( and all man-made bogus organized faiths), I was oscillating between two names to choose from: Arghaab ( ArGaab with a Ghain letter, not Gaaf: Pre-Islamic Arabic word for Shua-e-Khursheed; a ray of the sun) and Sumit. I temporarily chose Arghaab but got cornered as people thought that I was a Muslim; a religion I particularly abhorred. I had to drop it to rechristen myself as Sumit, though my faith in this religion is also sub-zero and I detest it equally. My point is, why do we give so much importance to names and external paraphernalia? Tabassum was a wonderful human. That was her sole identity, not her name or pseudonym and I'll not say that horribly disgusting RIP. Condolences to her family and all those who loved her heart-warming TV shows. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/tabassum-diabolical-thinking-hindu-muslim/d/128453 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism